If it has to do with New Haven and sports, you'll read about it here. Yale, Quinnipiac, New Haven, Southern Connecticut, Albertus Magnus, high schools, the New Haven Open, and Walter Camp to name a few. Plus we'll give you a look at the best to see each day.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Boxing update

The latest press release on Saturday night's card at Foxwoods that include some New Haven boxers:

Due to a commission doctor requirement, 3-time world title challenger “Sucra” Ray Oliveira has been forced to withdraw from Saturday night’s main event fight against Joey “KO Kid” Spina on the “Last Man Standing” card in Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.

CES has been granted permission by the commission to secure an opponent for Spina (25-1-2, 17 KOs), who is the No. 6 rated light heavyweight by the World Boxing Association. “Ray was cleared by a neurological specialist but the commission demanded a second test that wasn’t cleared,” CES president Jimmy Burchfield explained. “Ray did everything and more during this process and he was probably in the best shape of his career. One doctor said his blood pressure was unbelievably good. Ray Oliveira is a warrior who was 100-percent prepared, mentally and physically, to fight Saturday night. We’re working feverishly to find a suitable replacement for Spina, who doesn’t care about his new opponent, only that he’s fighting in the ring Saturday night.”

In the co-feature, New England super middleweight champion Vladine “Mr. Providence” Biosse (8-0, 4 KOs), a former University of Rhode Island football player, takes on upset specialist Ariel “Iron” Espinal (8-15-3, 4 KOs) in a non-title fight. Biosse, a native of Cape Verde, is one of the hottest prospects on the East Coast coming off impressive wins by 8-round unanimous decisions against Joey McCreedy on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights and Ibaheim King.

Tickets, priced at $40.00, $60.00 and $100.00, are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254) or Foxwoods (800-200-2882), going online at www.cesboxing.com or http://www.foxwoods.com/ , or in person at Foxwood’s box office.

For more information contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Foxwoods Resort Casino (http://www.foxwoods.com/ ). Doors open at 6:00 PM/ET, first bout at 7 p.m.

Elm City Legends Class announced

March of Dimes & Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder will present the third annual Elm City Legends, an evening dedicated to recognizing Greater New Haven’s best in sports and community dedication, on Nov. 8.

Elm City Legends, an awards dinner that brings together coaches, administrators, media personalities, athletes and March of Dimes mission families, will return to the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale.

This year’s Elm City Legends include:Scott Burrell (former NBA World Champion and collegiate player at the University of Connecticut)Deborah Chin (Director of Athletics, University of New Haven)Robert DeMayo (North Haven High School baseball coach)Dr. Richard Diana (played professional with Miami Dolphins, two-sport standout in football and baseball at Yale)Cathy McGuirk (Branford High School field hockey coach).

“We are pleased to announce an outstanding group of honorees as part of the 2010 class of Elm City Legends,” said Michael Kobylanski, Elm City Legends Co-Chair. “These individuals have left an indelible impact on the greater New Haven community throughout the course of their professional careers. We are excited to recognize this group for their tremendous achievements.”

Tickets for the 2010 Elm City Legends, which will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Nov. 8, are now on sale at marchofdimes.com/ct.

Tickets are $95 and reserved tables of 10 are $900. Sponsorship packages are also available. Jason Page of ESPN Radio 1400 & 1310 will again serve as emcee. For more information, please call 860-815-9355. All proceeds benefit the March of Dimes, working together for stronger, healthier babies.

West Haven Youth soccer tournament

Here's a release on what was a pretty successful youth soccer tournament last year returning to West Haven next week.

The West Haven Youth Soccer League is holding its second annual West Haven Invitational Tournament Oct. 9 and 10 at four soccer venues across the city.

Last year saw 57 teams with more than 1,500 players, parents and team officials from around the state participate in the inaugural tournament, and organizers anticipate an even bigger turnout this year, league President John A. Vinci said.

“Many of the teams coming this year are returning from last year,” Vinci said. “They have indicated that they had a great time last year and are looking forward to coming to West Haven again.”

Of the more than 3,000 expected to come out en masse for the Columbus Day weekend tourney, about 500 boys and girls ranging between ages 9 and 14 are from West Haven’s five teams, Vinci said.

Other communities represented with teams include Brookfield, Fairfield, Ivoryton, Manchester, Middletown and Weston.

The two-day tournament is set for 10 soccer fields that make up Peterson and Veterans fields on Bull Hill Lane, Duffy Field on Morgan Lane and Ken Strong Stadium on Educational Way.

Opening ceremonies, with Mayor John M. Picard as guest host, are set to kick off at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 9 at the flagpole on Duffy Field, which is next to Bailey Middle School.

Tommy Fund Family Day Sunday

The annual Tommy Fund Family Day will be held on Sunday at the Yale Tennis Center in New Haven. The Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer helps children undergoing cancer care at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital through research, support services and financial support to families in need.

Participants can run a 5K road race or walk two miles and kids under the age of 10 can run in a .3 mile fun run. The fun run begins at 10 a.m. and the 5K run and 2-mile walk at 10:30 a.m. Registration costs $20 before September 30 and $25 after; children 10 and under are $10, and $15 after September 30.

For more information or a registration form, call the Tommy Fund at 203.688.4081 or toll-free 800.974.5559 or log onto http://www.tommyfund.org/

North Haven Ski Club

Here is a press release from the North Haven Ski Club.

The North Haven Ski Club will be accepting Bulk Ticket Purchase orders and membership for our 2010-2011 season on Wednesday, October 6th from 6:30– 9:30 pm at the Knights of Columbus 22 Church Str. North Haven. This is your last opportunity to purchase preseason discounted lift tickets from a variety of New England Ski Resorts with no blackout dates thru the 2010-11 ski season. The deadline is Thursday, October 7th. This is the only time of year you can make this purchase. Some Mountains are Killington, Stowe, Mt Snow, Okemo, Stratton, Jay Peak, Pico.

The North Haven Ski Club will be hosting and Open House on Wednesday November 10th from 7-9:30 pm at the K of C Hall at 22 Church Street, North Haven, CT. There will be Ski Area Representatives, Ski tickets, refreshments and raffle. Come and learn what Skiing is all about.

The North Haven Ski Club offers Sunday Bus trips to a variety of place through out New England at very affordable prices from January thru March. The bus leaves from the Stop & Shop parking lot in North Haven, at 6 a.m. with a quick stop in Cromwell (Exit 21) to pick up our shoreline and Northern Connecticut members.

Membership is $15.00 student, $30.00 Single and Family $45.00

This year the club is offering a trip to Vail, CO. through the Connecticut Ski Council on February 5 - 12, 2011.

Price is $1,449.00 per adult based on double occupancy which includes air transportation, hot breakfast daily, 5 day ski pass valid at Vail, Keystone, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek. And much more. If interested or would like more information on this trip, Contact Judy Bernay at (203) 239-1759.

We also have an Adult ski racing team. All are welcome to join the team. Races are held on Monday evenings, in season, at Mt. Southington.

The North Haven Ski Club is a member of the Connecticut Ski Council (CSC), which offers reduced ski lift tickets to popular mountains in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. . Members may use their membership cards to purchase lift tickets at the mountain on any Ct Ski Council Awareness days at a great discounted price. Come join our club and look over the 2010-11 Council Days list. For more info on CSC visit www.skiclub.com

Yale Bulldogs Team Up To Fight Cancer

Events Planned For Weekend Of Sept. 24-26

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Yale field hockey, volleyball and women’s soccer teams will combine efforts for the second annual Team Up To Fight Cancer initiative. The teams will be selling t-shirts for $10 and collecting donations at home athletic events throughout the weekend of Sept. 24-26 to benefit the Yale Cancer Center, with the proceeds being designated to breast cancer research.

“It’s exciting to have all three teams fund raising to help fight cancer,” Appleman said. “There is a strong level of volunteer work on campus, and I know all three teams are honored to help with fighting cancer.”

The women’s soccer team will be collecting donations during the Friday, Sept. 24 volleyball game against Albany at 7 p.m. at the John J. Lee Amphitheater.

The field hockey squad will take over collection duties when the women’s soccer team hosts Princeton in its Ivy League opener on Sept. 25 at 4 p.m. at Reese Stadium.

During the Sunday, Sept. 26 field hockey game against Hofstra at 2 p.m. at Johnson Field, the volleyball team will be on hand collecting donations.

Donations may be made in person, via cash or check, at all three events.

Special Team Up To Fight Cancer t-shirts will also be sold for $10 while supplies last. Those who cannot attend but would still like to donate to the Team Up To Fight Cancer Initiative can send checks made payable to Yale University, with “Donation – YCC” noted in the memo to the address below:

Owls honored by Northeast-10

Three members of the Southern Connecticut State University football team – junior kicker Christopher Hazelton, senior defensive lineman Daniel Allen and junior quarterback Kevin Lynch earned weekly honors from the Northeast-10 Conference.

Hazelton was selected as the Special Teams Co-Player of the Week, while Allen and Lynch were both tabbed for the league’s weekly honor roll.

Hazelton had a career day in the Owls’ 55-12 win over Pace. He set a single-game high with 13 points by connecting on both of his field goals (20 and a career-best 37 yards) along with all seven of his extra points.

Lynch finished 12-of-16 for 232 yards and tossed a career-high four touchdowns in just one half of action for the Owls.

Allen recorded three tackles, two sacks and forced two fumbles in the Owls’ win.

The Owls return to action on Thursday night at 8 p.m. when they host American International in a nationally televised game on the CBS College Sports Network.

Fans who can’t make it to the game locally can tune in on Comcast channel 274 or Cox channel 135.

WHTL Awards

The West Haven Twilight League honored its outstanding players and manager for the 2010 season by announcing their end of season award winners.

The league’s officers, board of directors, and team managers voted on the top players for the season. Awards will be handed out at the 47th Annual Gold Bat Dinner, Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Italian American Civic Association (Westwoods), 85 Chase Lane, West Haven.

The league’s Most Valuable Player and Batting Champion awards went to Columbus Auto Body player Mike Tamsin, who led the league in batting average (.508), runs batted in (17), and hits (31). In addition, his strong play in the field was evident by his 1.000 fielding percentage.

Pitcher of the Year was given to Sal Savo of A-Plus Plumbing. Savo had 7 wins and 1 loss with 5 complete games. His 2.13 ERA was among the league’s best and his 38 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched kept opposing batters off the bases all season long.

Ryan Barba of Metro Taxi was named Rookie of the Year. Barba batted .385 with 17 runs and 11 RBIs in his first season in the league. He led the Metro Taxi infield at second base with a .986 fielding percentage.

A-Plus Plumbing’s Mike Coggins was voted the league’s top manager. Coggins’ team captured the WHTL championship going 17-8.In addition, his team won the NABF Northeast Regional Tournament and were the runners-up at the NABF World Series played in Louisville, Kentucky.

The top players throughout the league were chosen for the WHTL All-League Team.This year’s All-League Team members are:

C -Ryan Cimino (A-Plus Plumbing) .327, 4 HR, 13 R

1B -Henry Lee (A-Plus Plumbing) .333, 4 HR 17 RBI

2B -Ryan Barba (Metro Taxi) .385, 17 R, 11 RBI

3B -Pete Rodrigues (Bank of So. CT) .364, 3 HR, 12 RBI

SS -Garrett Walker (CT Reds) .339, 17 R, 6 RBI

OF -Bryan Dorsey (CT Reds) .352, 11 RBI

Karl Derbacher (Baybrook Remodelers) .340, 11 SB

Mike Tamsin (Columbus Auto Body) .508, 14 R, 17 RBI

DH - Matt Ranaudo (Baybrook Remodelers) .395, 13 R, 8 RBI

P - Brian Gouin (A-Plus Plumbing) 5-1, 1.44, 47 K, 50 IP

Steve Landell (Baybrook Remodelers) 4-1, 1.85, 38 K, 39 IP

Sal Savo (A-Plus Plumbing) 7-1, 2.13, 38 K, 55 IP

Tickets for the Gold Bat Dinner are$35 per person and are available by contacting Chairman Tom "Tinker" Blake at (203) 934-3820.

NFF high school football meeting Wednesday

The Gene Casey New Haven County Chapter of the National Football Foundation will hold the first meeting of the year on Wednesday at the Knights of St. Patrick, 1533 State St., New Haven beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Scheduled speakers include Chris Palmer head coach of the Hartford Colonials, who will bring several Colonials players with him, Bob Barton co-editor of the Connecticut High School Football Record Book and George “The Coach” Demaio of WELI.

In addition, the chapter will recognize Hall of Fame Classic head coach Tommy Dyer of Hillhouse, and the other game coaches, for New Haven County’s 16-13 victory over Fairfield County in July.

Registration and packet pickup will also be available on the morning of the race at 6:45 a.m. at the Registration Tent on the upper Green. However, due to the early start time, runners are urged to pick up their packets before Labor Day.

This year the race will again be using the D-Tag timing system. The D-tag is easy to attach to your shoe and is far lighter and less intrusive than chips. They do not need to be returned after the race. Please visit httpwww.chronotrack.com for instructions on how to attach the tag to your shoe. You can also or view the instructional video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxAjCZQcy3w. Volunteers will be available to explain the D Tag system at packet pickup.

You can still register for all races! You can also register for the race in person at Trailblazer 296 Elm Street, New Haven (September 3-5, noon - 6 p.m.). Race Day Registration begins at 6:45 a.m. in the Registration Tent on the upper Green.

The Kids Fun Run will start at 8:15 a.m. on the New Haven Green. This event is for those children six to twelve years old who are able to run without their parent's assistance. The Kids Fun Run (raceday gift and ribbons to finishers--no awards) is sponsored by The Childrens Dental Group, P.C. and the Cindy Lynn Sherwin Memorial Foundation.

The 20K and 5K begin at 8:40 a.m. on the New Haven Green. You can only enter one (1) Race.

Although we have ordered more than 5,000 technical running shirts, sizes cannot be guaranteed. For best selection, pick up your packet and t-shirt before raceday!

All participants in the Kids Fun Run will receive short sleeve cotton t-shirts.

Please avoid driving on Elm and Church Streets on race morning. Police will be diverting traffic so start line mats can be set up at 7:15 a.m.

Charitable FundraisingAt this year's race, contributions will be accepted for the Cindy Lynn Sherwin Memorial Foundation, The American Cancer Society, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. Contributions will be accepted at our race headquarters and on raceday.

Bring your old and worn sneakers and shoes to packet pickup at Trailblazer or to the New Haven Green on race morning. We will be collecting shoes for the Haiti Relief Fund.

Reduced parking fee for runners will be available on Labor Day in the Temple Street Parking Garage. To get to the Temple Street garage follow the directions below to Church Street and take your 2nd left to Crown Street - the garage's entrance is on your left in ½ block. You may also enter the Temple Street Garage on North Frontage Road or George Street. Parking is also available in the Crown Street Garage at standard parking rates. The entrance is 1 ½ blocks up on the right.

DIRECTIONS TO TRAILBLAZER (RACE HEADQUARTERS -- 296 ELM ST, NEW HAVEN)From I-95 heading North -- Take the Downtown New Haven Exit, Exit 47 (left hand exit). Follow highway until it becomes a city street. Turn right onto Howe St. Turn right onto Elm St. Trailblazer is on your right.From I-95 heading South-- Take Exit 47 (Downtown New Haven). Follow directions from above.From I-91 heading South -- Take Exit 1 (Downtown New Haven). Follow directions from above.

DIRECTIONS TO THE NEW HAVEN GREEN (Road Race)From I-95 heading North -- Take the Downtown New Haven Exit, Exit 47 (left hand exit), get off at Exit 1, straight to light, right onto Church St., left at 3rd light to Chapel St., New Haven Green is on the right.From I-95 heading South -- Take Exit 47 (Downtown New Haven). Follow directions from I-95 heading north.From I-91 heading South -- Take Exit 1 (Downtown New Haven). Follow directions from I-95 heading north.

STRATTON FAXON NEW HAVEN ROAD RACE FACTS

New for 2010- The 5K will run a new course this year: You can view the new course at www.newhavenroadrace.org The 5K starts at the corner of Church and Chapel Streets and will not have a turn until nearly 1 mile into the race.

The New Haven Road Race receives major support from the Stratton Faxon Law Firm, the City of New Haven, Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism and Trailblazer.

The 20K race is the USA Men's and Women's 20K National Championship. The Kids Fun Run is sponsored by Children's Dental Group, P.C. and the Cindy Lynn Sherwin Memorial Foundation and will start at 8:15 a.m.

The 20K and 5K races will start simultaneously at 8:40 a.m. The 20K race will begin on Elm Street.

The start line for the 20K race will be near College Street heading west.

The 5K will start on Church Street.

The start line for the Kids Fun Run is on Temple Street between Wall and Elm Streets.

20K and 5K runners should identify the start line for their race and be at the start line by 8:30 a.m. 5K runners should not begin to line up until after the Kids Fun Run finishes at 8:25 a.m.

Signs in the START area will mark expected running paces for the 20K: 6-minute mile, 7-minute mile, 8-minute mile, and 9-minute mile. Please do not line up in an area marked for a pace faster than you expect to run the race. All runners will cross the starting line quickly, without pushing and shoving, if runners line up according to their pace.

The 5K race will have a time limit of 50 minutes. All races will use the same finish line.

The 20K race has a time limit of 3 hours. Any runner who is not finished by 11:40 a.m. will be disqualified.

Labor Day in New Haven has been hot and humid. The Medical Director can cancel or postpone the race in the case of extreme weather conditions (see race website for information). Here are some tips for ensuring a successful run: First, you should train for the Road Race with some hot weather running. Second, you should begin to increase your fluid intake for the Road Race several days before the race. Third, on Race day you should drink water as needed during the race. Fourth and most importantly, know your abilities and limitations and adjust your pace to the weather conditions. Do not try to set a record on a hot and humid day.

There will be a fully staffed medical tent near the finish line. The doctors, nurses and emergency medical technicians who staff this tent work at the Road Race for your safety and benefit. Please follow their instructions. Medical personnel have the authority to disqualify any runner who continues the Road Race after being told to retire due to injury or heat stress. In a case of extreme heat and humidity, electrical storms or severe weather conditions, the medical director has the authority to cancel the race. Dogs, bicycles, in-line skates and baby joggers are not allowed on the race courses.

Make sure to drink plenty of fluids on race day. There will be Native Waters earth friendly water bottles at the finish line area. Native Waters offers 100% natural and local spring water packaged in biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable bottles.

Water stations are located near the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9.5, 10.5, and 11- mile markers of the 20K course. Please use them.

A water station will be available approximately mid-way through the 5K course. Gatorade will also be provided at all aid stations. GU Energy Gel will be available at the 7 mile mark on the 20K course.

Digital display clocks are located at every mile marker in the 20K and the 1 and 2 mile marks of 5K. Each mile of the course for both the 20K race and the 5K race will be clearly marked by signs at the side of the road.

This year's race features 13 bands and DJs on the 20K course and 3 on the 5K courses.

We are pleased to announce that our finish line system can provide your time and place less than one half hour after you cross the finish line. Results will be posted on the side of the Center Church as soon as they become available. Please do not request this information from individual race officials at the finish line.

Complete results will be listed in the New Haven Register soon after the race. The awards ceremony for the first three finishers in the 5K race will take place on the upper Green at 10:15 a.m. The awards ceremony for the first ten finishers in the USA Men's and Women's 20K Championship will take place on the upper Green at10:45 a.m. All other award winners can pick up their awards at the registration tent (5K awards available after 10:15 a.m., 20K awards available after 11 a.m.)

Cash and bonus prizes for the 20K (no prize money in 5K and Kids Run) will total $41,550 this year. The list of prizes is as follows:

Cash awards to the first 10 American Male and Female finishers (Mens and Womens USATF 20K National Championship). Cash prizes also to the top 3 CT male and female runners and top USATF/CT teams.

The first man or woman to break the existing 20K course record will receive $1,000 Course Record bonus (57:37, Khannouchi, 65:11, DeReuck).

Non-cash prizes to the first three finishers in each age division (5K and 20K) and to the first three wheelchair finishers (20K only).

Gerard Esposito Award given to the fastest male and female judge or lawyer (20K only)

Corporate Cup awards to the members of the top 3 corporate teams in each race.

Kayem Hotdogs, Chabaso Bakery bread, Dunkin' Donuts products, Turkey Hill Ice Cream, cookies, yogurt, fruit, Cabot Cheese samples, Red Hook beer and live music will be available for all runners immediately after the finish at our post race party. Only runners displaying their official race number will receive free food and beer.

Also sampling on the New Haven Green will be Generation UCAN. A Revolutionary sports drink with a healthy one-of-a-kind energy source called SuperStarch. Meb Keflezighi (NY marathon champion) and Olympic nutritionists call it a groundbreaking innovation.

Amtrak Security will be providing a baggage check service on the Green for all runners. Baggage must be picked up by noon on Labor Day.

The 20K race will feature Clydesdale awards. The Clydesdale division will be for men who weigh over 200 lbs and women who weigh over 150 lbs.

Hopkins School is celebrating its 350th Anniversary in 2010. Members of the Hopkins community who are running in the race are invited to stop by the Hopkins tent on the Green to pick up their race t-shirt anytime after 7:00 a.m. There will be a group photo at the tent at 7:50 a.m. sharp.

We look forward to a great day of running. We appreciate your participation and wish you the best of luck on Labor Day. For race information call (203) 481-5933 or visit www.newhavenroadrace.org Before, during, and after the race, road race officials will be available for directions and questions. Feel free to call upon them.